Sturgis advertiser. (Sturgis, Dakota [S.D.]) 1887-1???, 1887-10-12
A TELEPHONE TANGLE.
From the ST. Louis Republican, by 8. sloman,
CHAPTER /.

80
CHAPTER i.
] might almost call it a tragedy, for
it might have been one if matters hadn't
all got nicely Strengthened out at last.
The way it occurred was this: We,
my wife Of six months and my not at
all humble self. had established our
selves in lovely Eastlake cottage, fur
nished with all the latest conveniences,
including that. greatest OF modern
Injuries, a telephone. 1t was rather
expensive for people of our means, but
we were determined to enjoy this bliss
full and novel method of communica-
ton If we had to live upon crackers
and cheese. Our cottage was a cosy
one, though it did have the appearance
of beiag patched up Of odds and ends
and corners Clipped off our friends
houses.
On the morning Of the day that the
marvellous apparatus was set up ! left
my wife in very happy frame Of
mind, but did rot find her SO when /
reiulued. She had never used the in
stl ument before, and was not &C
quainted with the smodus operandi. "
81 tried to speak to you six times
z
through that horrid tube" she pouted,
"and there was always something
wrong. I forgot how many bells to
ring, and when / got it right the man
said .halloa!' / think how dye do
would have been more polite. Then
he asked me whom wanted to talk to,
and said MY husband, of course.
could hear the wretch laugh, and tell
somebody else; then he asked what was
your number, and / said l,642 Main
street, and he laughed again. He's
too rude altogether, and 1 wish you'd
discharge him." I explained to her
and pacified her; and after repeated
trial we at length succeeded in com.
municating with each other. Never
shall I forget the rapture of that mo-
ment when I first heard those liquid
tones informing me that the butcher
had left the wrong meat, and
crTorYT cIJrs no 1xrrrrr upp
"Why, cook it, of course, my love-" ]
replied. "BuL, darling, you know you
never eat veal,' she demonstrated.
s'Oh, well, throw it away, them" al
which extravagant proposition could
hear her silvery laughter.
All went smoothly for few weeks,
and then came the terrible catastrophe
of which | write. We had visitor in
the person of cousin of my wife, a
charming girl of IS. Thinking it a
pity that this charming girl should
have nothing to do in the evening but
sit and watch our spooning, got in
the habit of inviting young man in
our office, by the name of Jerry Black,
to dine with us and spend the evening.
He was fine young fellow, and my
discerning wife soon began to suspect
that he and Alice were sweet on each
other. s'Did you notice the meaning
glance that they exchanged when he
passed her the butterp" she SAID one
evening in the privacy OF our apart
ment. "Why, yes, a glance of mean
ing that she wanted the butter, l sup
pose,'' laughed I. .sAny one would
think you had been married ten years
you're SO unsympathetic,'' she pouted.
Both women had become experts in the
use of the telephone by this time and ii
appeared to me that they spent the
greater part of their time at it.
One day was summoned, and a
tweet voice asked: sis that you dearpn
1T was not my wife's-s' am SO sor-
ry have been SO cold to you, can you
forgive me dearestP" the voice contin.
ued, feminine fashion, without waiting
for an answer.
s.What's thisp' I thought, but replied
masculine fashion: sYes, certainly
forgive you"
..And you do care for me, don't
you?" she pleaded. Eyes, indeed" ]
said with mixture of amusement and
surprise at these astonishing revela.
tions. "Then come tonight and show
NE that am forgiven" Great Scott
Here was that girl whom my wife was
SO sure was in love with Jerry, making
love to me with all her might through
the telephone. But L must put a stop
to it. must let her see once for all
that ] ara not the man for that sort oil
thing.
Late in the day the telephone was
rung again, and the. well-known voice
of the wife of my bosom said: SIS il
JerryP"
"What in the dickens has she got
to say to himp" I wonder, and on the
impulse of the moment answered ..yesr'
A pause, then the following dialogue
ensued: cs
81 have something to say to you,
dear. that I forgot to say to you be-
fore.' (TenderlY.)
Eyes, darling, what is itp''
"Although | think the world of you,
| cannot accept that present you sent
me. It's too handsome. I'm sure
Tom wouldn't like. (Well, no;
rather thought not.) $50 you're afraid
OF your jeslous husband, are you, my
lovep"
A pause.
"But you will offend me, if you do
not accept my offering. You dot not
care for me, as I do for you!''